The defi nition of Negligence is

Rep. Magnafi ci receives Friend of Nursing Award

MADISON – On Tuesday, Rep. Gae Magnafi - ci and Senator Dale Kooyenga received Friend of Nursing awards from the Wisconsin Nurses Association. The two received the awards following the passage of 2019 Wisconsin Act 97, which increases the criminal penalty for violence against nurses. Rep. Magnafi ci and Senator Kooyenga authored the bill after surveys from Wisconsin nurses indicated that nearly two-thirds of nurses in Wisconsin had experienced workplace violence within the previous year.

“As a former nurse, I’m incredibly proud to be able to give back to my profession,” said Magnafi ci. “I’m grateful for this recognition from the Wisconsin Nurses Association. I’m confi dent Act 97 will send a strong message to our state that violence against our nurses will not be tolerated. A safer environment for our nurses will mean a safer environment for patients and a higher quality of care.” Gae Magnafi ci represents Wisconsin’s 28th Assembly District which covers portions of Polk, Burnett, and St. Croix Counties. ‘I’m incredibly proud to be able to give back to my profession.’ Rep. Gae Magnafi ci

Last week, Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm joined us in Baldwin to hold a roundtable of family caregivers from all over our area. This is an important issue that we are working to address on the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving because as Wisconsin’s population ages, supporting long-term care is becoming even more critical.

Wisconsin’s aging population continues to grow- especially in rural, northern areas like ours, where more than 25% of residents are 65 or older. For example in Burnett County, over 41% of the population is over the age of 65.

Meanwhile, the 85 and over population in Wisconsin will grow by 120% by 2040- the fastest growing of any age group.

While both of these populations grow, our crisis of quality, reliable long-term care will grow as well because family caregivers, rather than paid professionals, provide care to around 90% of the long-term care population. This unpaid caregiving is so prevalent that one out of six members of our state’s workforce are also unpaid caregivers. And 30% of those caregivers are over 65 themselves.

In Baldwin, we brought family caregivers to the table to give us the stories beyond the statistics. Their stories were striking.

We heard from people like Darci who began caring for her husband, Mike, in 2017 when he was diagnosed with probable early-onset Alzheimer’s. After a few years, she had to move him into an assisted living facility which is costing her $6,000 every month. To cover the expenses, Darci is has been forced to tap into their IRA. As she said, “we are all one illness from poverty.” Senator Schachtner

Jamie shared his diffi cult story of caring for not only his spouse, but also his daughter. Jamie’s 11 year old daughter has muscular dystrophy that requires significant care around the clock. A few years ago, his wife was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis too. Although the state has approved his daughter for 30 hours of personal care, workers are in short supply and Jamie can’t get the help he needs. In western Wisconsin, certifi ed nursing assistants and personal care aides can head across the border where they face fewer barriers to certifi cation and can earn a higher reimbursement rate for their work.

Jan told us that though she worked in senior care for 32 years, nothing could have prepared her for becoming a full time caregiver for her husband with Alzheimer’s. Judy, who spent her career working in healthcare, shared that she has been caring for her husband with a variety of chronic health problems since 2011. She said she has recently given herself permission to grieve the losses she’s had in dealing with his care.

I am so thankful for all the caregivers that joined us to share their stories this week. Family and other unpaid caregivers give up so much of themselves to keep their loved one safe, healthy, and happy. As Bonnie told us, they look to “fi nd the grateful joy in every day.” Wisconsin’s caregivers and those in need of long-term care must have access to all the resources and support they need to fi nd that joy in every day.

Caregivers can get help from their local Aging and Disability Resource Center by visiting www.dhs. wisconsin.gov/adrc/consumer/index.htm. ‘We are all one illness from poverty.’ Darci Caregiver

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Trail safety concerns

Here are some very important facts for Polk County taxpayers to be aware of regarding the County Board’s attitude on uses for the Stower Trail.

1. Since day 1, the number one concern about having motorized and non-motorized uses on the same trail has been SAFETY.

2. The WI DNR acknowledges that mixed use trails do not work because of the lack of safety.

3. Toole Design, hired by Polk County to advise them on trail planning, stated that horses, motorized and non-motorized uses should be separated for safety reasons.

4. Snowmobiles on the Stower Trail will be subject to a 10 mph nighttime speed limit for much of the trail, but Polk County has committed zero dollars to enforcing this law. 5. The defi nition of Negligence is “a failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury to another person, due to circumstances which the plaintiff could have been expected to foresee”.

6. Polk County has repeatedly ignored all concerns regarding safety on the Stower Trail, and has made zero commitment to ensuring the safety of non-motorized users on the trail.

7. A County Board and its members are typically immune from prosecution or lawsuits resulting from board action, EXCEPT in the case of negligence.

8. If a person using the Stower Trail is injured due to Polk County’s decision to add snowmobiles and horses to the existing trail

with no safety modifi cations, Polk County AND THE INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS can be sued for damages due to this decision which follows the defi nition of negligence.

If the County’s plan to add snowmobiles and horses to the existing trail goes through, an injury to a non-motorized user is just a matter of time. When that happens, it will be satisfying to see the board members who voted for this be forced to pay damages in court, but unfortunately these costs will most likely trickle down to us taxpayers as well, and most unfortunately, someone is going to have to be killed or seriously injured in order for this County Board to get the message.

Sincerely, Joseph Peterson, Osceola, WI

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Supports City Council

I strongly support Amery’s Council and Mayor for extricating this community, its taxpayers and downtown from a very diffi cult situation in regard to the Bremer/ library/City Hall conundrum. As a fi nancial supporter of the library, I too want Amery to put forward a great plan for a new library space and have confi dence that a good architect and strong investment can get that done.

But faced with an untenable lease/renovation at the current library, an unworkable and antiquated City Hall, a long-term vacancy at one of Amery’s fi nest downtown structures, and a glaring need for new investment, I think the city’s leaders pretty much pulled a rabbit out their hats.

Small rural communities are almost universally in a terrible economic predicament: declining tax base, lacking jobs and housing, negative real income growth, short on young people, aging infrastructure, empty store fronts, loss of manufacturing and retail.

Pulling together a civic complex housing municipal offi ces, library and their professional staffs offers a wealth of opportunities for community enhancement and engagement and saves a ton of money. This outside-the-box approach attacks Amery’s challenges on every front: pulls in downtown investment, strengthens its tax base, modernizes infrastructure, and offers a compelling vision of a community well-adapted to the social and economic realities of the 21st century.

We not only need this to work, we have to sit down together and make it work — for the benefi t of everyone. Hang together or hang separately, without a viable alternative.

Peter Henry Amery

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